USU recieves $5.3 million land donation
Higher education in Utah is getting a helping hand with the gift of a $5.3 million parcel of land to Utah State University by Uintah Basin resident Bob Williams.
The total property donated to USU is 138 acres and the second-largest private gift in university history.
Guy Denton, executive director of the Uintah Basin campus, said, “We’ve grown from 1,000 students to 2,600, and this land provides opportunities for new programs and new facilities to meet the needs of Uintah Basin.”
This would not have been possible without the generosity of Williams. A lifelong resident of Roosevelt and Vernal, Williams said he always wanted to give something back to Vernal. The idea of donating the land to USU came as he drove past the property on his way to work every day.
“The more I thought about it, the more I felt it had to be, for I realized what it would do for Vernal and the Uintah Basin,” Williams said. He talked it over with his accountant and found that the land had already been sold for a subdivision development. But he didn’t let that stop him.
Williams had a strong vision and Dec. 30, 2005, he purchased the land and deeded it to USU.
USU President Stan Albrecht said Williams’ generosity will have a huge impact on Uintah Basin.
“There’s been a lot of enthusiasm from the community,” Albrecht said. “We won’t replicate out there what we do here, but we will be responsive to their needs. This provides opportunities for the reintroduction of business degrees and will pave the way for programs that will be unique to that area in the extractive industries. I also think Mr. Williams’ benevolence will probably help others step up and donate to the university.”
Albrecht said one of the goals that Williams’ gift will help make a reality is that of regional campuses, especially in areas that would be without strong educational programs.
The Uintah Basin campus is working closely with the provosts and he shares Albrecht’s vision of regional campuses, Denton said. The land gift will provide a solid base for future growth of the Uintah Basin campus, Denton said, and will create more educational opportunities for the students of the area.
He said the thing that has impressed him most about Uintah Basin is the community’s commitment to higher education.
“I’ve lived in several places and worked with several universities and this is what impressed me most in my seven years in the basin. The citizens have an absolute, undying commitment to higher education,” Denton said. “They don’t just talk about it, but come forward with gifts and scholarship funds. The facilities in Roosevelt and Vernal come from the commitment of the citizens.”
He also said the community understands the impact education will have on economic development in the region.
-dilewis@cc.usu.edu